NJ Gym Warned By Gov. Murphy Reopens For 2nd Day; 1 Arrested

UPDATE: Atilis Gym reopened for a third straight day at 8 a.m. Wednesday. The crowd is reportedly smaller than it was on Tuesday. Read more here: NJ Gym Reportedly Opens For Third Straight Day Despite Murphy Warnings

BELLMAWR, NJ — A South Jersey gym that made national headlines when it reopened in violation of the governor’s executive order Monday reopened again Tuesday morning. And for the second straight day, the owners were issued a citation for reopening, according to the Bellmawr Police Department.

A gym member was also arrested as he left Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, and other members were warned they could be ticketed if they didn’t peacefully disperse.

The owners were charged with a violation of Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive order, Bellmawr Police Chief William Walsh said Tuesday morning. The police department had no further comment on the gathering. Calls to the gym by Patch on Tuesday morning were met with a busy signal.

News 12 posted footage on Twitter of the gym member’s arrest as he was leaving the gym Tuesday afternoon.

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That gym member returned to the parking lot a short time later, saying he was handcuffed after he refused to give his name to police. He told reporters he was issued citations for violating the executive order and obstruction.

The owners have warned members they could be arrested if they don’t identify themselves to police as they leave the gym, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Owner Frank Trumbetti had previously told members to “prepare to be arrested,” according to Fox 29.

The Law Offices of Jef Henniger has offered to represent for free gym members at Atilis Gym who get arrested in connection with violating the governor’s executive order.

“Unfortunately, at least one arrest was made today at Atilis Gym,” the law office said in a statement. “We continue to stand by to assist gym employees or members that get arrested today. If any protesters get arrested or cited, we can discuss the case with them as well. There is no need for a GoFundMe page because if we take the case, it will be pro bono. We will not take any money from anyone that was arrested today. We will either accept the case or we won’t, although we hope to be able to accept as many people as possible if there are multiple arrests.”

Speaking during a Tuesday afternoon news conference, Col. Patrick J. Callahan, superintendent of the New Jersey State Police, said the Bellmawr Police Department and the Camden County Prosecutor’s Office are looking into additional charges against patrons.

“Prosecutors offices and local law enforcement are the first lines of attack,” Murphy said during the news conference, adding that the state was not “there yet” on reopening gyms. “It’s indoors, it’s close, physical activity. We’re concerned about it.”

Callahan said the state has been fairly even-handed across the board when it comes to businesses violating the executive order. Barbershops, massage parlors and other businesses have all been cited multiple times before eventually being shut down.

The owners could be fined up to $2,000, but owners Ian Smith and Trumbetti told 6ABC they plan to take the matter to court. An online fundraiser was also launched to help the gym raise money to pay for its court costs. It had raised over $24,000 as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to NBC 10, police also told the crowd they were in violation of the governor’s order and were told to get in their cars. Smith and Trumbetti urged the crowd to listen to police, saying they are not the enemy. The scene and the aftermath were captured by NBC 10.

After being issued the citation, Trumbetti told the news station, “I will not close my doors again unless I am behind bars and unable to unlock the door. I guarantee you this door will be open every single day.”

Here is how the scene was portrayed by various media outlets:

On Tuesday, the owners were issued a disorderly persons summons for violating the portion of Murphy’s stay-at-home order that states all recreation and entertainment businesses must remain closed as long as the order is in effect, police said. The order was issued in March in an attempt to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Members were given warnings, but Murphy said they would face a different reality if they returned on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear what the governor meant. Read more here: Gov. Murphy Warns Gym After It Reopens, Defying NJ Orders

After being issued the summons, Trumbetti told nj.com, “I’m not worried about jail.” He said the owners made a conscious decision to fight for the cause for everybody.

Camden County Freeholder Louis Cappelli Jr. has weighed in on the reopening of the gym, located in his county.

“Arbitrarily opening a nonessential business is breaking the law,” Cappelli said. “Having rallies with congregations of people close together without masks is putting people at risk to spread the virus. These capricious actions undermine the work we have all done and the progress we have made over the last two months.”

He acknowledged the incident has raised some good points as it relates to reopening businesses.

“There have been insightful ideas about progress with social distancing and protections that could be put in place for individual business owners to assimilate into the new normal we live in, but ultimately this is no way to advocate these ideas,” Cappelli said.

The gym’s mission first became known last week when Smith told Tucker Carlson on Fox News that he would defy the governor’s orders. If the state shut his gym down, he said, he would just reopen. Read more here: South Jersey Gym To Reopen In Defiance Of Coronavirus Orders

The owners announced the gym would reopen and follow social distancing guidelines and safety precautions, including taking the temperatures of members who wished to enter and denying access to anyone with a fever of 100.4 or higher. Capacity would also be limited to 44 people at a time.

Monday’s reopening drew a large crowd that broke out into chants throughout the gathering. Protesters wore shirts calling Murphy a “tyrant,” while a sign that appeared to be set up by the owners outside the gym read, “Let’s work together Mr. Murphy. Together we can do this.”

Read more: South Jersey Gym Reopens In Defiance Of Gov, Murphy’s Orders

Later, a Bellmawr police officer drew cheers from the large crowd that gathered to support the gym. He didn’t mention any summons that had been issued when he spoke just before 11 a.m.

“We are, and we’re only here for everybody’s safety today,” the officer said. “We planned for the worst, hoped for the best, and it seems like that’s what we have out here today. Formally, you are all in violation of the executive order.

“On that note, have a good day, everybody be safe,” the officer said.

Bellmawr police have not publicly addressed the incident. Bellmawr Mayor Charles J. Sauter III told the Philadelphia Inquirer he was “proud of the manner in which the Bellmawr Police Department conducted themselves this morning, as well as the respect shown toward our police officers by the general public.”

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